Taking a bike on the train: What it costs to take a bike on the train in Germany

Since the introduction of the Deutschlandticket, travelling by regional train has become easier. According to the Association of German Transport Companies, around 11.2 million people use the 49-euro ticket every month. However, it does not cover the carriage of bicycles and not everyone wants to take out a Deutschland Ticket subscription. For cycling enthusiasts, the challenge of finding the right ticket remains. The bike experts from the second-hand portal buycycle have analysed which regions of Germany are best for travelling by bike on the train.

Bicycle transport in the city: strong regional differences

The cost of taking a bike on the train varies considerably depending on the region. The study produces a ranking that compares the prices for day and bicycle tickets in 40 major German cities as well as the prices and value for money in the most important transport associations.

Saarbrücken offers the cheapest bicycle transport among the 40 cities analysed. A day ticket there costs 5.60 euros and bicycles can be carried free of charge. This rule also applies in Chemnitz, Stuttgart, Hanover, Freiburg, Wiesbaden, Mainz, Frankfurt and Mannheim, although there may be exceptions during off-peak or peak times. In the other cities analysed, the cost of taking a bicycle on the bus is between one and 6.50 euros. In Berlin, on the other hand, the price for a combined train and bicycle ticket is 17.30 euros.

Bicycle transport in various transport associations

Day trips by bike are becoming increasingly popular. According to the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC), over 37 million people in Germany will be using bicycles for holidays and day trips in 2023. Anyone who gets on their bike in the morning and travels part of the way by public transport can experience a personal adventure away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The prerequisite for this is a suitable public transport ticket that allows you to explore entire regions flexibly. The fares of the transport associations vary not only in price, but also in their range. The following ranking takes into account both the cost of the tickets and the range offered.

The local transport offer for cyclists is the cheapest in the Saarland region. A day ticket costs 10.20 euros and a bicycle ticket, which is only required before 9 a.m., costs 4.50 euros. The best value for money (euros per kilometre) is offered by the network ticket for the Rhine-Neckar region. The local transport network covers almost 200 kilometres and a day ticket costs 17.80 euros. A bicycle ticket is only required on weekdays between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and costs up to 9.70 euros. Last place in this ranking is taken by the Rhine-Sieg transport association with a day ticket price of 34.20 euros. By comparison, the SchönerTagTicket NRW is similarly expensive at €34.80 and offers cyclists significantly more destinations to choose from.

Taking bikes on the train: questions about questions

The analysis shows that German public transport is also complex for cyclists. Although it is possible to take your own bike with you in many regions with additional tickets, there are a few details to consider. When planning a trip, the following points should be given particular consideration:

• Can I take my bike with me at any time or only at certain times (free of charge)?
• Can you take your bike with you on any form of public transport or are buses, for example, excluded?
• What kind of ticket do you need for a bicycle?
• How much space is provided for bicycles and are they only allowed in certain carriages?

Bicycles on the railway: summary of the analysis

The study by cycling platform buycycle concludes that a flexible combination of environmentally friendly modes of transport such as bikes, buses and trains will be necessary for sustainable mobility in the future. The current ranking shows that Germany already offers many opportunities for this compatibility. Nevertheless, in many places there are restrictions on taking your own bike with you, which means that a successful trip requires not only good planning but also a bit of luck. Choosing the right ticket is also a challenge, especially if you are travelling in unfamiliar regions of Germany.

One example of an extension to the Deutschlandticket is the VMS-DeutschlandTicket+ offered by Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen. For an additional 10 euros per month, the 49-euro ticket can be extended to include bicycle transport. It would be advantageous if similar additional tickets were available throughout Germany for holders of the DeutschlandTicket. This could make using public transport in combination with your own bike more attractive, according to buycycle.